Reader device

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a holder assembly and method of using the same. The holder assembly is provided for supporting items on a lower base portion and a document holder platform. The holder assembly may include the base portion; a vertical support portion extending upwardly from the lower base portion; an upper base portion connected to the vertical support portion; a slide portion movably disposed on the upper base portion; and the document holder platform disposed on the slide portion, the document holder platform supporting a document holder clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to devices to support a paper, collection ofpapers or other items.

There are a wide variety of situations in which it is desired to supportan item, such as a document or a collection of documents, for review bya user. Illustratively, such a situation commonly occurs in conjunctionwith use of a computer. That is, a user often refers to physical paperswhile manipulating related information presented by the computer.Various devices have been used in the past to support items such aspapers, or other reading material items. However, known devices forsupporting a document or other reading material item have variousdeficiencies. Some known devices do not allow easy manipulation ofpapers, i.e., such as allowing the user to easily secure papers forreview. Other known devices do not allow the user to secure a paper in adesired position, i.e., so as to position a paper as desired vis-à-vis acomputer screen, fore example.

In particular, known devices are deficient in the context of use withcomputer accessories. A typical user interface device is a mouse andassociated mouse pad. However, a mouse pad often takes up valuabledesktop space and limits the space available for reading material andother documents. This is often especially true since the location on adesktop most conducive to positioning a document (and writing on thedocument) is typically the very same position at which a mouse isoptimally disposed.

Accordingly, a device is needed that addresses the above problems so asto suitably retain a paper or other document. In particular, a device isneeded that beneficially allows a user to position a mouse pad, inconjunction with providing a paper holder, in an often limited desktoparea.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a holder assembly and method of using the same.The holder assembly is provided for supporting items on a lower baseportion and a document holder platform. The holder assembly may includethe base portion; a vertical support portion extending upwardly from thelower base portion; an upper base portion connected to the verticalsupport portion; a slide portion movably disposed on the upper baseportion; and the document holder platform disposed on the slide portion.The document holder platform may be provided to support a documentholder clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description together with the accompanying drawings,in which like reference indicators are used to designate like elements,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a holder assembly in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform in a raised position in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform in an extended position and horizontal positionin accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform in an extended position and raised position inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform and upper base in a raised position inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a holder assembly in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an upper base portion in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing further details of a slide inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view along line 9-9 in FIG. 8 in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing further details of the documentholder portion with slide in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a further perspective view showing the document holderportion in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a document clip in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of a document clip in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lower base in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, aspects of the holder assembly in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention will be described. As used herein, any termin the singular may be interpreted to be in the plural, andalternatively, any term in the plural may be interpreted to be in thesingular.

The various embodiments of the holder assembly of the invention aredirected to the above stated problems, as well as other problems, thatare present in conventional techniques. The foregoing description ofvarious products, methods, or apparatus and their attendantdisadvantages described in the in the “Background of the Invention” isin no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, or to imply thatthe invention does not include some or all of the various elements ofknown products, methods, and/or apparatus in one form or another.Indeed, various embodiments of the invention may be capable ofovercoming some of the disadvantages noted in the “Background of theInvention,” while still retaining some or all of the various elements ofknown products, methods, and apparatus in one form or another.

The holder assembly, as described herein, assists in organization andeffective use of a desktop and aids in holding documents while using acomputer, and in particular while utilizing a mouse with mouse pad. Theholder assembly includes a document holder, in conjunction with a mousepad holder. The document holder can be used as a shelf that can beraised, lowered, extended out over keyboard, for example, or can berotated 360 degrees to the user's preference.

In accordance with embodiments, a variety of other features may also beprovided with the document holder. Under the document holder, of theholder assembly, may be provided a pocket to hold items such as pencils,paperclips or most anything else that can clutter a desktop. With theaid of a document holder clip, i.e., a page holder, the user can holddocuments and papers on the document holder in a tilted position thatcan be adjusted to eye level. As a result, a document can be positionedwhere the user wants the document, instead of trying to prop documentsin an awkward position. The document holder portion or platform (of theholder assembly) can be easily slid off the holder assembly to use byitself. For example, the document holder might be used in a raisedposition to hold the user's work.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a holder assembly 10, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention. The holder assembly 10 includes adocument holder or document holder platform 70. The holder assembly 10further includes a lower base portion 20 upon which is positioned amouse pad 24. A vertical support portion 30 is connected to the lowerbase portion 20 and extends upwardly from lower base portion 20. Inturn, connected to an upper part of the vertical support portion 30, isan upper base portion 50. The upper base portion 50 is adjustablerelative to the lower base portion 20, as discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the document holder platform 70 is disposed on theupper base portion 50. The document holder platform 70 is adjustablerelative to the upper base portion 50. In particular, as shown, thedocument holder platform 70 may be connected to the upper base portion50 using a slide portion 60. As a result, the document holder platform70 is both pivotally and slidably adjustable relative to the upper baseportion 50. Further, the document holder platform 70 with slide portion60 may be positioned on either side of the upper base portion 50, i.e.,depending on whether the user is right or left handed, for example.

A document holder clip or page holder 200 is mounted on the documentholder platform 70. The document holder clip 200 is connected to thedocument holder platform 70 with housings (74, 74′). The housings (74,74′) are disposed on respective sides of the document holder clip 200 soas to pivotally support the document holder clip 200. The documentholder platform 70 may be used to hold a document or other item asdesired.

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform 70 in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 2, the document holder platform 70 is in an uprightposition. The document holder platform 70 is pivotally connected to theslide portion 60 utilizing a pair of hinge assemblies 72. Details ofeach hinge assembly 72 are described below. The document holder platform70 may be raised for review of a document. Further, the document holderplatform 70 may be slid relative to the upper base portion 50 forpositioning as desired by the user, i.e., using the slide portion 60 asdescribed below.

As noted above, the document holder platform 70 and slide portion 60 maybe slid off the upper base portion 50 for separate use, i.e., for use asa stand alone assembly. The weight of the slide portion 60 (see forexample FIG. 2) should be provided to be sufficient to support thedocument holder platform 70. Further, it is appreciated that thedimensions of the slide portion 60 and/or the document holder platform70 may be varied so as to enhance independent use of the document holderplatform 70 with slide portion 60.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 3, the document holder platform 70 is disposed in ahorizontal or closed position. Further, the document holder platform 70in an extended or slid out position relative to the upper base portion50. For example, the arrangement of the holder assembly 10 as shown inFIG. 3 may be used to dispose the document holder platform 70 over akeyboard.

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform in an extended position. However, in FIG. 4,the document holder platform 70 is also in a raised position, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. That is, thearrangement of FIG. 4 may be used to hold a document over a keyboard,such that the document is in a raised position. Such an arrangementallows for holding a document in close proximity to a monitor, forexample.

FIG. 5 is a further perspective view showing a holder assembly with adocument holder platform 70 and upper base 50 in a raised position, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. In particular, FIG. 5shows further details of the vertical support portion 30. The verticalsupport portion 30 includes a lower support member 31 and an uppersupport member 36. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the upper support member36 is telescopically disposed in the lower support member 31, howeverthe reverse may alternatively be utilized. Accordingly, the uppersupport member 36 may be vertically slid up and down in the lowersupport member 31. Further, the upper support member 36 may be rotatedrelative to the lower support member 31. As can be appreciated, thevertical support portion 30 (with the lower support member 31 and theupper support member 36) provide the capability to position the documentholder platform 70 in a variety of positions, as desired.

As shown in FIG. 5, the vertical support portion 30 includes a lockingassembly 40. The locking assembly 40 may be used to fix the uppersupport member 36 relative to the lower support member 31, i.e., afterthe upper support member 36 has been disposed in a desired position bythe user. As discussed below, the locking assembly 40 may include a boltand nut assembly.

In further explanation of various features described above, FIG. 6 is anexploded view showing a holder assembly 10 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. The holder assembly 10 includes the lowerbase portion 20 and the upper base portion 50. Mounted on the upper baseportion 50 is the slide portion 60 and the document holder platform 70.A mouse pad 24 is disposed on the lower base portion 20. The lower baseportion 20 is connected to the upper base portion 50 with the verticalsupport portion 30. The vertical support portion 30 includes the lowersupport member 31 and the upper support member 36. The lower supportmember 31 and the upper support member 36 are fixed to each otherutilizing the locking assembly 40. The lower support member 31 isprovided with a locking device retaining channel 32. The locking deviceretaining channel 32 adds to the structural rigidity of the lowersupport member 31.

The locking assembly 40 (including a bolt 42 and nut 44) is operativelydisposed on the locking device retaining channel 32. Specifically, thelocking device retaining channel 32 includes a channel slot 45. Inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, the nut 44 is disposedin the channel slot 45, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The channel slot 45is further shown in FIG. 14, which is a perspective view of the lowerbase portion 20. The channel slot 45 includes a channel 46 with a slot48 on each side of the channel 46. The nut 44 of the locking assembly 40is received into and disposed in the slots 48. The bolt 42 of thelocking assembly 40 may then be disposed so as to pass through thechannel 46 and threadably through the nut 44. The bolt 42 is thenscrewed in so as to abut against the upper support member 36, i.e., soas to provide a set screw of sorts. The bolt 42 may be loosenedvis-à-vis the upper support member 36 so as to allow repositioning ofthe upper support member 36, and then re-tightened once a desiredposition is attained.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an upper base portion 50 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The upper base portion50 includes the upper support member 36, which connects the upper baseportion 50 to the lower base portion 20. The upper base portion 50provides a platform on which the slide portion 60 and the documentholder platform 70 are supported and movably positioned. FIG. 8 is aperspective view showing further details of the slide in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

As shown on FIG. 7, the upper base portion 50 includes a pair of slidechannels 55, in which the slide portion 60 may alternatively bepositioned. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, eachslide channel 55 extends the width of the upper base portion 50, asshown in FIG. 7. The opposing ends of each slide channel 55 includes analignment channel 56. The alignment channel 56 forms a portion of theslide channel 55, that is wider than the remainder of the slide channel55. The slide portion 60 is received in one or the other of the slidechannels 55.

As shown in FIG. 8, the slide portion 60 includes slide body portion 64.A slide shoulder portion 65 is disposed along each side of the slidebody portion 64. Depending on the arrangement desired, one slideshoulder portion 65 is received into a respective slide channel 55, andis slidably disposed in the respective slide channel 55. For example,the slide portion 60 may be slid so as to result in the arrangementshown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 shows that the slide portion 60 may include molding apertures 63.Molding apertures 63 may be provided as desired in the slide portion 60so as to effectively access portions of the holder assembly 10 in themolding process. That is, the molding apertures 63 allow the use of asimpler mold than would otherwise be required. In particular, themolding apertures 63 (shown in FIG. 8) make it easier to generate theretaining ribs 61 shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 8 also shows clearance slots 66. In accordance with one embodimentof the invention, clearance slots 66 may be provided to provideclearance for positioning of the document holder platform 70 andoperation of the hinge assembly 72.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper base portion 50 includes the two slidechannels 55. The two slide channels 55 are provided to afford thecapability to change the slide portion 60 from one side to another. Thatis, in this embodiment, only one slide shoulder portion 65 is engagedwith one slide channel 55 in a given arrangement, i.e., as shown in FIG.4.

Each slide portion 60 includes a pair of slide engagement apertures 62,as shown in FIG. 8. Further, the upper base portion 50 includes aplurality of slide engagement members 51, as shown in FIG. 7. Dependingon the position of the slide portion 60 vis-à-vis the upper base portion50, a slide engagement member 51 extends into a respective slideengagement aperture 62. Such engagement between the slide engagementmember 51 and the slide engagement aperture 62 may be used to orient theupper base portion 50 with the slide portion 60. For example, in thearrangement shown in FIG. 4, only one of the slide engagement members 51would be engaged in a respective slide engagement aperture 62, i.e., andsuch engagement would define the extended position of the slide portion60 vis-à-vis the upper base portion 50. On the other hand, with thearrangement of FIG. 2, both slide engagement members 51 would be engagedin respective slide engagement apertures 62, i.e., since the slideportion 60 would be disposed in a centered position vis-à-vis the upperbase portion 50. Each slide engagement member 51 may be constructed of abendable tab including a protuberance, i.e., a rounded portion. Theslide engagement member 51 may be constructed of plastic, for example.The protuberance of each slide engagement member 51 “snaps” into arespective slide engagement aperture 62 at a point at which a slideengagement member 51 is aligned with a slide engagement aperture 62.Alternatively, the arrangement might be reversed such that the slideengagement member 51 is disposed in the slide portion 60 and the slideengagement aperture 62 is disposed in the upper base portion 50, forexample.

As can be appreciated, when the slide portion 60 (with document holderplatform 70) is in an extended position, e.g. such as shown in FIG. 3,the slide portion 60 must be retained so as not to tip relative to theupper base portion 50. In order to prevent such tipping, and in generalto assist in securement of the slide portion 60 with the upper baseportion 50, the slide portion 60 includes a retaining rib 61. Theretaining rib 61 is shown in both FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

FIG. 9 is a cross section view along line 9-9 of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is aperspective view showing further details of the document holder portionwith slide in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Inaccordance with one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the retaining rib 61extends horizontally from a lower portion of each slide shoulder portion65. The retaining rib 61 need only extend a portion of the length of theslide body portion 64. However, the particular positioning and size ofthe retaining ribs 61 will depend on the particular arrangementsdesired. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, the retaining rib 61 isdimensioned and positioned so as to be respectively received into thealignment channel 56 in the upper base portion 50, i.e., depending onwhich side of the upper base portion 50 the slide portion 60 ispositioned.

Once the slide portion 60 is moved to one side or another (relative to acentered position on the upper base portion 50), the particularretaining rib 61 (on one end of the slide portion 60) will be disposedunder the slide retaining shoulder 54 (note step 57 as shown in FIG. 7).Such arrangement with the retaining rib 61 disposed under the slideretaining shoulder 54 serves to secure the slide portion 60 upon. theupper base portion 50 (and prevent tipping). Both ends of both slideshoulder portions 65 (as shown in FIG. 8) are provided with a retainingrib 61. Accordingly, the total of four retaining ribs 61 afford forvarious arrangements with (1) either of the slide shoulder portions 65disposed in a respective slide channel 55; and/or (2) the slide portion60 slid either way relative to the upper base portion 50.

FIG. 9 also illustrates further details of the hinge assembly 72, whichserves to pivotally connect the slide portion 60 to the document holderplatform 70. The hinge assembly 72 includes a hinge arm 69 and a hingetab 67. The document holder platform 70 includes a support rod 76, asshown in FIG. 11. The hinge arm 69 and a hinge tab 67 serve to securethe slide portion 60 to the document holder platform 70, andspecifically to a respective support rod 76.

More specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,when the document holder platform 70 is in the lowered position (asshown in FIG. 1) the support rod 76 is positioned in the hinge assembly72 as shown by position 76′ (see FIG. 9). On the other hand, when thedocument holder platform 70 is in the raised position (as shown in FIG.2) the support rod 76 is positioned in the hinge assembly 72 as shown byposition 76″ (see FIG. 9). That is, as the document holder platform 70is moved to the raised position, the support rod 76 slides down in thehinge assembly 72 (as shown by the arrow in FIG. 9), and abuts the hingetab 67. This position of the support rod 76, in conjunction with thedocument holder platform 70 disposed against the alignment tab 68 (andother portions of the slide portion 60) precludes movement of thedocument holder platform 70 vis-à-vis the slide portion 60 during use,i.e., precludes the document holder platform 70 from falling back to thelowered position. When it is desired to move the document holderplatform 70 from the raised position to the lowered position, the userpulls up on the document holder platform 70 (so as to move the supportrod 76 from the 76″ position to the 76′ position). When the support rod76 is in the 76′ position, the document holder platform 70 is then freeto be rotated back to the lowered position.

FIGS. 1 and 11 also show recessed portion 78. Recessed portion 78 may beprovided on the document holder platform 70 to provide a recess orconcave portion. Such arrangement effects bending of a paper supportedon the document holder platform 70, i.e., as page holder 200 bends thepaper into recessed portion 78. Such bending affords the paper a“backbone” of sorts and assists in keeping the paper in an upright (andreadable) position. The particular shape and dimensions of the recessedportion 78 may of course be varied as desired. Relatedly, it is ofcourse appreciated that the shape and dimensions of the other componentsof the holder assembly 10 may be varied as desired.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 alsoillustrates that the upper base portion 50 may be provided with a pocket52. The pocket 52 is disposed between the two slide channels 55. Thepocket includes a pocket bottom 58 and pocket walls 59. The pocketbottom 58 and pocket walls 59 together form a holding pocket or bin,which can be used to retain pens, paper clips, or other items as may bedesired.

The structure of document holder clip 200, which functions as a pageholder, for example, will hereinafter be described in further detail. Asshown in FIG. 1, the holder assembly 10 includes the document holderplatform 70 pivotally disposed upon and connected to the slide portion60 (and in turn the upper base portion 50), as described above. Thedocument holder clip 200, or set of document holder clips 200, arebiased against the document holder platform 70 for retaining a document,i.e., such as a book, or pages of the document, for example.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views of a document holder clip 200. Forexample, the document holders as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/787,150, filed Feb. 27, 2004 (Attorney Docket No.56730.000004 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/117,693, filed Apr.29, 2005 (Attorney Docket No. 56730.000009, which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety, may be used. With reference toFIG. 13, the document holder clip 200, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention, includes a holder housing portion 221 extending alonga first side of the document holder clip 200, a center planar portion222 extending along the holder housing portion 221, and an arcuateflange 223 extending along the center planar portion 222. An aperture224 is defined by the arcuate flange 223 and the center planar portion222. The document holder clip 200 may further be characterized asincluding a page holder shoulder 225 at the end of the arcuate flange223. The page holder shoulder 225 is what typically makes physicalcontact with the book or other document while reading.

As shown in FIG. 13, the holder housing portion 221 may be tubular inshape. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a respective pageholder may be supported on the platform portion 200 on respective sidesof the platform portion 200. The page holder 200 may be supported byrespective housings (74, 74′) formed upon the platform portion 200. Thehousings may be integrally formed with and extend from the documentholder platform 70. Also, the holder housings (74, 74′) of the documentholder clip 200 may be provided so as to form a continuous surface withthe holder housing portion 221.

The document holder clip 200, as shown in FIG. 13, further includes apage holder pin 226 extending from each opposite side of the holderhousing portion 221 of the document holder clip 200. The page holderpins 226 extend into the housings (74, 74′), as is shown in FIGS. 13and 1. As shown in FIG. 13, the document holder clip 200 includes aspring 227. The spring 227 biases the document holder clip 200, andspecifically the page holder shoulder 225, against the documents beingretained on the document holder platform 70. The spring 227, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention, encircles the pageholder pin 226. One end of the spring 227 is supported by the springholding shoulder 228, as shown in FIG. 13. The other end of the springis supported in the page holder end housing 230, for example, i.e., inthe situation where the document holder clip 200 is supported by thepage holder end housings (74, 74′).

The page holder pin 226 may be respectively received into the housings(74, 74′) in any suitable manner. For example, the page holder pins 226might be each provided with a pin end angled surface 229, as shown inFIG. 13. The pin end angled surface 229 may be provided to allow the pinto slip past a surface in the housings (74, 74′) so as to snap intoplace. However, any other known arrangement may be used to hingedlydispose the page holder 220 in the housings (74, 74′). Further, itshould be appreciated that any of the features described herein may beused in conjunction with the features described in the U.S. patentapplication Ser. Nos. 10/787,150 and/or 11/117,693, and visa-a-versa.

As described herein, the devices above, in accordance with the variousembodiments of the invention, have been described as a reading stand anddescribed in the context of holding an item. It is appreciated that thedevices of the invention may be used to hold a wide variety of items forviewing, as may be desired. Accordingly, the devices of the inventionmight hold items such as books, magazines, papers, photographs or anyother object or material that might be physically supported on thedevice. Further, the lower base portion 20 need not be used to support amouse pad, but might instead be used to support other items, as desired.For example, a user may wish to support a second document on the lowerbase portion 20.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment wherein the document holder platform 70is positionable between a lowered position and a raised position.However, it is appreciated that other arrangements might be utilized inwhich the document holder platform 70 may be positioned in a variety ofangles, as desired. Such an arrangement might utilize a suitable propmember, for example. The prop member might be hingedly connected to thedocument holder platform 70 and engage with suitable stops on the upperbase portion 50, for example.

The devices of the invention, in accordance with the variousembodiments, may be made from any of a wide variety of materials and/ordimensions, as is desired. The invention might be made of wood, plasticor metal, for example, or any other material. Further, a variety ofproduction techniques may be used to make the holder assembly asdescribed herein. For example, suitable molding techniques might beutilized. Also, the various components of the reading stand may beintegrally formed, as may be desired, in particular when using moldingconstruction techniques. Also, physical size of the respectivearrangements may be adjusted to accommodate books of varying sizes.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art thatthe present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application.Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other thanthose herein described, as well as many variations, modifications andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and foregoing description thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described here indetail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to be understoodthat this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the presentinvention and is made to provide an enabling disclosure of theinvention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure is not intended to beconstrued or to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude anyother such embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications andequivalent arrangements.

1. A holder assembly for supporting items, the holder assemblycomprising: a lower base portion; a vertical support portion extendingupwardly from the lower base portion; an upper base portion connected tothe vertical support portion; a slide portion movably disposed on theupper base portion; and a document holder platform disposed on the slideportion, the document holder platform supporting a document holder clip.2. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the vertical supportincludes: an upper support member; and a lower support member, uppersupport member being telescopically received in the lower supportmember; and a locking assembly engaging the lower support member withthe upper support member.
 3. The holder assembly of claim 2, wherein thelocking assembly is disposed in the lower support member and includes achannel slot with a first threaded portion, a second threaded portionengaged with the first threaded portion and engaging the upper supportmember.
 4. The holder assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper baseportion includes a pocket.
 5. The holder assembly of claim 1, whereinthe slide portion is pivotally attached to the document holder platform.6. The holder assembly of claim 5, wherein the slide portion includes aslide engagement aperture, and the upper base portion includes an slideengagement member, the slide engagement member being received in theslide engagement aperture.
 7. The holder assembly of claim 1, whereinthe slide portion includes a slide shoulder portion, and the upper baseportion including at least one slide channel, the slide shoulder portionbeing received in and retained in the slide channel.
 8. The holderassembly of claim 7, wherein the slide portion further includes aretaining rib disposed at a lower portion of the slide shoulder portion,the retaining rib being slidably disposed under the slide channel so asto retain the slide portion.
 9. The holder assembly of claim 8, whereinthe slide channel further includes a alignment channel disposed at eachend of the slide channel.
 10. The holder assembly of claim 9, whereinthe slide channel extends the width of the upper base portion.
 11. Theholder assembly of claim 1, wherein a mouse pad is disposed on the lowerbase portion.
 12. The holder assembly of claim 1, further including ahinge assembly to retain the document holder platform on the slideportion, the document holder platform 70 including a support rodpivotally disposed in the hinge assembly.
 13. The holder assembly ofclaim 12, wherein the document holder platform 70 is disposable in alowered position and a raised position, the hinge assembly providing forthe support rod to move to a lower position upon the document holderplatform being moved from the powered position to the raised position.14. The holder assembly of claim 12, wherein the hinge assembly 72includes a hinge arm and a hinge tab 67, the support rod 76 beingretained by both the hinge arm 69 and the retaining rib
 61. 15. Theholder assembly of claim 13, wherein the document holder platformincludes an alignment tab, the alignment tab supporting the documentholder platform 70 in the raised position so as to not move to thelowered position.
 16. A method for supporting items, the methodcomprising: providing a lower base portion; providing a vertical supportportion extending upwardly from the lower base portion; providing anupper base portion connected to the vertical support portion; providinga slide portion movably disposed on the upper base portion; andproviding a document holder platform disposed on the slide portion, thedocument holder platform supporting a document holder clip.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further including: placing a mouse pad on the lowerbase portion; and raising the document holder platform 70 from a loweredposition to a raised position to review an item on the document holderplatform.
 18. A holder assembly for supporting items, the holderassembly comprising: a lower base portion; a vertical support portionextending upwardly from the lower base portion; an upper base portionconnected to the vertical support portion; a slide portion movablydisposed on the upper base portion; and a document holder platformpivotally disposed on the slide portion, the document holder platformsupporting a document holder clip; and wherein the vertical supportincludes: an upper support member; and a lower support member, uppersupport member being telescopically received in the lower supportmember; and a locking assembly engaging the lower support member withthe upper support member; and wherein the upper base portion includes apocket.
 19. The holder assembly of claim 18, wherein the document holderplatform 70 is provided with a recess, the document holder clipengageable with the recess so as to secure paper in the recess in a bentstate.